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D. J. SHELDRIGK. DRIVE CHAIN No. 428,862. Patented May 27, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID J. SI-IELDRIOK, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH A. JEFFREY,OF SAME PLACE.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming' part 0f Letters :Patent N0. 428,862, dated May27, 1890.

Application filed March 8, 1889. Serial No. 302,493. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID J. SHELDRICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chains, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompan yin gdrawin gs.

Figure l is a plan view of my improved chain. Fig. 2 is au edge viewwith the links straightened out in working position. Fig. 3 is an edgeView with two links in position for coupling and uncoupling. Fig. 4 isan end view of one of the links. Fig. 5 is a bottom view with the linksstraightened out.

A B A B are the side bars, each connected at one end to aninward-projecting tubular end bar, thimble, or sleeve A', having apintle-seat, which is circular in cross-section, eX- cept at a, where itis grooved, and at its opposite end with a pintle-seat, which iscircular in cross-section, except at h,where it is grooved, the side barand tubular end bar being integral, substantially as is customary inthis class of chains. Each side bar is provided with a projecting flangeor shoulder O c c, of which its central part C is at its outer edgepractically concentric with the center of the pintleseat, its ends c cpractically merging with the main portion of the side bar.

D d d is a pintle fitting somewhat closely the pintle-seats in the endsof the side bars and the thiinble, the arrangements of the grooves a l)being such that when two links are at an angle to each other, as in Fig.3, these grooves register with each other, so that the pintle can beinserted; but when the links are straightened out the splines engagewith opposite ends of the sleeve or thimble. Upon the upper edges of theside bars there are laterally-projecting flanges E E, preferablyprovided with bolt-holes to receive some forni of conveyor or carrierbar, and in order to furnish as large a supporting-surface as ispossible for such conveyer or carrier I extend these ears forward in thedirection ot the sleeves to points about in line with the centers of thepintle-seats.

E E are bracing webs or brackets curved in horizontal section andconnecting the ears with the outer faces of the side bars. These websproject downward and forward.

e e (see particularly Fig. 4) are notches or recesses formed in thelower ends of these brackets to receive the flanges 'O cc, whereby theouter vertical webs of the iianges form overlapping guards or stops,.which project into close proximity with'the circular parts AAof the endbars. The rear walls or webs e of these bracketsare not perpendicular tothe ears,but are inclined, substantially asindicated in Figs. 2 and 3,to receive the upper edges of adjacent side bars when the links areplaced at an angle for coupling or uncoupling, as in Fig. 3. It is wellknown that with U-shaped links of this general charaeter coupledtogether by pintles which are not riveted at their ends there isliability, when under heavy tension, of the free ends of the side barsspreading apart and either slipping off from the ends of the pintles orbending or breaking the pintles by reason of the increased strain whichis thus thrown upon their extreme outer ends. By an eX- ainination ofVthe drawings it will be readily understood that thesebrackets or webs Eserve the double purpose of bracing and supporting the lianges E E andof preventing the outer ends of the side bars from spreading by reasonof the engagement ot the lower portions of the brackets overlapping theouter v faces of the flanges O c c.

I am aware that it is common to provide detachable chain-links withlaterally-proj ecting flanges to receive and support carriers, and thatsuch flanges have been provided with bracing-webs in the angles formedby the intersection of the anges with the bars of the links, and hencedo not claim such construction, broadly; but I believe I am the first tocombine with the open end of a U -shaped link and a removable pintle theclosed end of a U-shaped link provided with laterally-projecting flangesand downward and forward projecting brackets notched at their lower endto receive and overlap the adjacent side bars and support them againstspreading apart, whereby there is secured a broad upper face Tolaterally-proj eating iian ges, and the downward and forward projectingbrackets notched at their lower ends and overlapping the free ends ofthe side barsof the adj aceno U-shaped link, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in I5 the presence of twowitnesses.

DAVID J. SHELDRICK. Witnesses:

DAVID E. WILLIAMS, WILLIAM F. GARRETT.

